Stottie

Meaningless game perhaps, but great to see Sterling put it to Liverpool just after they win the league. Liverpool's more immature fans have been willing him to fail, but he has significantly stepped it up since leaving them.

Aye well done Liverpool. Easily deserved. Back at the start of the season when Allison was out, I did not expect them to go on and dominate in this way. They have proved they have quality all over the pitch.

The good ol big man, little man. Tactical genius.

I'd have hauled him off at HT, but he's won the game for us there through the sending off. I don't like our players using the dark arts, we're not a team that usually gets decisions and the memories of Mitro's shit attempts are too raw, but Joelinton's done a number on the guy there. The first booking was for absolutely nothing. His manager must be fuming. In fairness to Joelinton, we are bottom in the league for shots inside the 6-yard box and about the same for shots inside the box. He's been feeding off very little all season. ASM has looked great, but had he done what he's done twenty-thirty yards higher up the pitch, he'd be find of the season and we'd be hearing constant rumours of big bids for him from the top clubs. Ours is not a system that flatters attacking players.

Yes it is. A media trope in the past few years has been to refer to Zaha as the best player outside the top six. Now its Aubameyang. Arsenal are that low in the league with a Barca/Real level striker. Put him in our team in place of Joelinton and the extra 10 points would have us fifth.

Greatest one-two in history!

Aye, good shout. The games come thick and fast.

Still under 43% possession.

Lolz for the first and he left the Tyne Tunnel there at the near post for the second.

Surely you can kick the corner flag during social distancing!

Facing ten men, we're back down to the 45% possession we know and love.

Komic Kapers there for our gollol. Best league in the world etc. etc.

Sounds like I'm on a meandering river here. Gerrin!

Nice one Joelinton, a bit reminiscent of Joselu tackling it into the goal for a decisive moment. Pressure on Bruce to go on and win this now.

Not bad, Joelinton about as far from scoring as possible on that chance as the main talking point. Since he's also got himself booked for nothing, Bruce has to hook him at HT. Sheff Utd look very poor, but their delivery from dead balls is very good, way better than ours. I could see that deciding the match if we are passive and let it happen.

55% possession and 81% pass success rate. What's happening? Joelinton same as ever though.

Chunky!

Sorry if Giggs, but I hope the dubbed-on crowd sound has the Ashley song at least twice each half.

His close control was epic at drawing fouls to win free kicks. I seem to remember him being the most fouled player in the league at one point. ASM wipes the floor with him at dribbling.

I suppose it is anti-Semitic to point out that despite all of the things mentioned in the cartoon, Israel is increasingly cosying up to Saudi Arabia. Should the things mentioned in the cartoon change the way we look upon Israel, or only the way we look upon Newcastle United Football Club?

I was a kid in the 1970s and therefore naive, but I don't remember folk wanting Liverpool, Villa, or Forest to lose in the European Cup. Maybe my old man did, I just didn't notice. It's clear that a lot of people are happy to see Liverpool, City, Man Utd (if they were in it) lose now, myself among them.

I think it says a lot about the way that we play that both ASM and Miggy are very tricky on the ball but neither has won a penalty this season. They've never had the ball in the box.

Pickford unconvincing again. Beaten from outside the box, and then has it easily slotted past him in a one-on-one where he didn't go to the ball.

As penalty saves go, it was in the top 10%. Agreed about the non-enforcement of the rules. You'd think it would be easy to check with VAR. Any rule-breaking by a keeper is going to matter much more than encroachment by outfield players, which is enforced. As we know ourselves, it can even be enforced by berk referees who erroneously take the penalty away.

Yeah, maybe there is a mental block or something after all. It is harder to score in the PL than the Champo, but the difference is not as stark as this.